Paseo de la Mesa Trail

West Mesa

Distance: 4.12 miles (one-way)
Surface: Asphalt
Elevation Gain: 531 feet

The Paseo de la Mesa Trail is located on Albuquerque’s West Mesa.  This run is chalanging  given over 500 feet of elevation gain.  Run walk the distance if you are a beginner, sooner or later you will run the entire route.

“Being an intellectual creates a lot of questions and no answers. You can fill your life up with ideas and still go home lonely. All you really have that really matters are feelings. That’s what music is to me.”

– Janis Joplin


Volcanoes Ahead

Around a mile out from the eastern terminus of the Paseo de la Mesa Trail, you leave civilization behind.  Up ahead on the right is Butte Volcano and on the left if Bond.

Turn The Corner

The trail tuns to the north at 1.7 miles from its eastern terminus.  The next 1.5 miles are along rolling terrian.

Turnaround Point

After 4.2 miles you will arrive at the western termius of the Paseo de la Mesa Trail.  Beyond the gate is a parking lot and the dirt road running out to Atrisco Vista Blvd.

Dirt Road Alterative

Running along the side the asphalt path, just outside the open space boundry, is a dirt road running almost the entire length of the trail.

Star Rising

Sunrise over Sandia Mountain greets the early morning runner.  This part of the trail runs east for 1 mile from the parking lot at the western terminus of the Paseo de la Mesa Trail.

Route Description

There are parking lots at each end of the Paseo de la Mesa Trail.

Directions to the eastern end parking lot:

  • From intersection of Montano Road and Unser Boulevard NW, proceed north on Unser up through the escarpment-cut;
  • At top of grade, look to the west for big water tanks and prepare to turn.
  • Turn west on Molten Rock and prepare to turn south.
  • Turn south on 81st Street;
  • Proceed south on 81st Street a short ways to trail head entry and turn right/west into trail head parking-lot;
  • Follow directional signs from 81st and Molten Rock to lot.

Directions to the western end parking lot:

  •  Take Paseo del Norte Blvd west until the road turns south and becomes Atrisco Blvd.
  • About 0.6 miles on the east side of Atrisco Blvd there is a dirt road leading to the parking lot.  There should be a sign indicating the Paseo de la Mesa Open Space.
  • The parking lot is a little more than 0.1 miles from the turn off.
  • City of Albuqueque’s Paseo de la Mesa Trail info page.

Run Details:

  • The run is in three segments.
  • Segment 1 runs for 1.7 miles uphill from the eastern end parking lot.  The slope or grade will vary, but the route at this point is essentaily all elevation gain.
  • At mile 1.7 the middle segment begins as the route runs north over rolling terrain.
  • The third segment runs uphill over the final mile except for a short downhill section just before the trunaround point.

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